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Latest by Simon Cohen

lg 65 inch rollable uhd oled ces video 4

2019 could be the year LG finally rolls out its OLED TV

After years of being shown demos of amazingly flexible OLED TV displays, LG might just be ready to bring a roll-up OLED TV to market, if recent rumours are to be believed. If true, it would mark the first time you'll be able to buy a TV that can disappear from view, yet not require a custom install.
marshall voice google assistant

Google Assistant gets the Marshall treatment with two new smart speakers

Marshall's Voice-series were already some of the most stylish smart speakers on the market, but now they're available as Google Assistant-compatible editions. This makes Marshall one of the few companies to support both Alexa and Google, albeit in separate models.
heatmine cryptomining heaters heater 6473a

Canada’s winters inspired a startup to warm homes with cryptomining heat waste

Consuming massive amounts of electricity and generating tons of waste heat has become the price we’re paying to use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It’s a problem that gets worse at scale. But Quebec-based Heatmine thinks there may be a way to replace existing hot water heating systems with mining rigs, solving two problems at once.
phiaton-curve-bt-120-nc

Phiaton’s active lifestyle headphones do noise canceling on a budget

Looking for a set of active noise cancelling earbuds that can keep up with your active lifestyle, without breaking the bank? Phiaton's Curve BT 120 NC could be just the ticket. At $79, they're no more expensive than good quality Bluetooth headphones, but they do a much better job of blocking noise.
A black Google Chromecast on a white background.

Google Chromecast returns to Amazon just in time for the holiday shopping crunch

It's been a chilly few years between Google and Amazon, with each company taking increasingly nasty shots at the other. But things may be improving. Just in time for the holiday shopping crunch, you can now buy two versions of Google's Chromecast on Amazon, something that hasn't be possible since 2015.
vizio-p-series-quantum

Vizio is still rocking the Black Friday spirit with these TV and soundbar deals

If you missed out on all the great TV deals this past Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don't worry, Vizio has you covered. The company has some great discounts on its most popular 4K TVs and sounbar systems. But don't delay -- some of these deals only last one day.
lg c8 series 4k oled tv prd

Get ready to ditch your amplifier: New LG TVs add a powerful way to go wireless

There hasn't been much love for WiSA, a wireless technology designed specifically for high-end home theater applications, but that might be about to change. LG's top-tier 2019 TVs will all be WiSA certified, and that could mean a new wireless future for premium surround sound.
headphones cause of death

Boy dies after being electrocuted through his headphones

A 16-year-old Malaysian boy appears to be the latest victim in a growing list of people who have been electrocuted by their smartphones via their earphones. It's believed that a faulty charging cable is the culprit, but the final cause is still unknown.
senic nuimo click review feat

Senic Nuimo Click review

It can mount to any surface, and power itself: Senic’s Nuimo Click is the remote control your smart device should have come with. Well designed, it’s ideal for your smart home. But you’ll have to keep your expectations in check and your pocket wide open, as the Click’s features are limited.
sonos amp review feat

Sonos Amp review

With its new Sonos Amp, Sonos reinvents its first product with a view toward making it more appealing to custom AV installers and consumers alike. With more power and more features, it mostly succeeds, but comes at a steeper price.
Vmoda-Lightning-Cable

V-Moda’s SpeakEasy lightning cable promises better sound — for a price

While not for everyone, a third-party lightning headphone cable can improve the sound quality of your existing cans, without forcing you to carry around Apple's tiny, but annoying, lightning dongle. Is the V-Moda SpeakEasy lightning cable's $101 price tag worth it? It certainly has the specs.
Youtube on mobile.

YouTube Premium on the rocks? Original series will be ad-supported in 2020

In what will be seen by many as an acknowledgment that it can't compete with Netflix and Amazon Video, YouTube announced that its original programming will soon be available as ad-supported streaming for all of its 2 billion users. Could this be the end for YouTube's Premium subscription service?
Silicon Dust All in One

Cable TV without the cable bill? Silicon Dust’s All-In-One plan is calling

You can't have it all, right? You either pay a high monthly cable bill and get all the channels you want, or you pay no monthly bill, and only get what is freely transmitted over the air. Silicon Dust is offering a third option now, with its All-in-One plan: Full DVR and 45 cable channels, for one price.
LG XBoom Black Friday

LG slashes the price of its Xboom speakers for Black Friday

If terrific portable audio at a terrific price sounds good to you, now is the best time of the year to pick up an LG XBoom portable Bluetooth speaker. The company has slashed prices for its speaker line by as much as 50 percent, making the entry-level PK3 a superb deal at only $50.
Hover 2 selfie drone

This fully autonomous $400 drone folds like a book, follows you like a paparrazzo

Until recently, having a drone that could follow you everywhere, while taking high-quality photos and videos without crashing into trees or other obstacles, was a flight of fantasy. Now, with ZeroZero's Hover 2, not only can you have a fully autonomous selfie drone, you can have it for $400.
tivo bolt ota antenna review living room feature

TiVo Bolt OTA for antenna hands-on review

Free over-the-air programming isn’t available in 4K, so why would you want a 4K OTA DVR? We’ll discuss what makes the new TiVo Bolt OTA a viable choice for cord-cutters with 4K UHD TVs who want to get ahead of the game. With a cheaper starting price than its previous OTA DVR, and a much faster interface, this could be the best OTA receiver on the market.
Wishplay Virtual Halloweeen

Wishplay’s virtual Halloween delivers a treat to terminally ill children

Being stuck in a hospital can be a miserable experience even if it's just for a few days. If it's longer term, or involves palliative, end-of-life care, it can be very tough. But a new Canadian non-profit called Wishplay hopes to change all that by offering patients free, customized VR experiences.
weaponized drone defense tech in rain feat

Death from above? How we’re preparing for a future filled with weaponized drones

Drones are everywhere. Shooting videos, finding quake survivors, delivering medicine, and performing safety inspections. They’re also causing mayhem and death. We’re going to need a new set of detection and defense technologies to keep our infrastructure, our institutions, and our children safe. This is how we do it.
TiVo BOLT OTA

TiVo’s Bolt OTA gives cord-cutters the 4K set-top box they’ve been waiting for

There's no question -- the OTA market is heating up. Amazon just released its OTA DVR, the Fire TV Recast, and now TiVo has updated its own OTA offering, the $249 Bolt OTA. With 4K compatibility and a much faster processor, it could be the OTA receiver cord-cutters have been holding out for.
arbor video doorbell review feat

Arbor Video Doorbell Review

The video doorbell industry is exploding, even though it remains dominated by smart home giants Ring and Nest. Can a new startup called Arbor, with its first crowdfunded product, even hope to compete? The answer is yes, thanks to free video recording and a fully wireless install.
Alexa TiVo

Tell Alexa to skip the commercial and your TiVo will make it happen

Shouting at your TV just became a whole lot more rewarding thanks to a new Alexa skill that lets you issue voice commands to control your TiVo DVR.
B&O BeoPlay P6

Bang & Olufsen’s BeoPlay P6 packs portable power, access to your assistants

Clad in an all-aluminum shell, the P6 delivers plenty of power, an all-day battery life, and one-touch access to personal assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. But only time will tell if a Bluetooth-only speaker really command a $400 price point, even if it does carry the Bang & Olufsen brand.
bluesound vs sonos both

Sonos vs. Bluesound: A Hi-fi, Wi-Fi Speaker System Shootout

Canadian whole home audio brand Bluesound shoots for Sonos’s crown with high-end NAD and PSB components and high-res support. Is it the new king? We find out.
tecla shield disabled touchscreen teclashield edit 016

Tecla Shield gives disabled people new choices for interacting with touchscreens

Disabled people have specific challenges when using touchscreens and PCs. The Tecla Shield removes barriers by using Bluetooth as a common standard.
Jabra Elite 65t

Jabra’s Elite earphones give you a direct line to Alexa while you’re on the go

Jabra's Elite headphones add voice assistant compatibility, including Alexa on the go, for a more productive audio experience.
Tivoli Model One Digital Review

Tivoli Audio ART Model One Digital review

Our Tivoli Model One Digital review reveals that despite great sound, problems with Wi-Fi and limited streaming support stops us short from falling totally in love.
Dolby Vision

Sony’s promised Dolby Vision update doesn’t speak HDMI

Sony customers aren't going to be happy that their long-awaited Dolby Vision update only works with streaming services at the moment.
Cleer SPACE smart speaker

Cleer’s 360 Space Smart Home Speaker gives Alexa a bigger, or quieter, voice

Backed by Qualcomm's new smart speaker tech and featuring immersive 360-degree sound, the Cleer Space speaker gives Alexa a bigger voice.
Magnavox 3-in-1 home theater

It’s not flashy, but Magnavox’s 3-in-1 bundle makes it easy to get your 4K on

Want 4K awesomeness, but without the hassles? Magnavox's 3-in-1 home theater bundle gives you a 4K TV, UHD Blu-ray, and a soundbar. Easy!
Alexa listening indicator.

Cortana gets an unexpected roommate on Windows 10 PCs: Alexa

Uh oh, Cortana, you've got company. Looks like Amazon's Alexa will be installed on new devices from Asus, Acer, and HP later this year.
Asus Lyra Voice

Asus joins the Alexa smart speaker party with Lyra Voice

More than just a smart speaker, the Asus Lyra Voice also packs a tri-band AC2200 mesh Wi-Fi node for a better Alexa experience.
Plex Plexamp music player

The Plex Winamp-inspired music player is a modern take on a desktop classic

Owing a debt to the classic Winamp, Plex's Plexamp player for Window/MacOS uses Plex's media server to deliver a unique listening experience.
Vibes Audio Vibrox review

Vibes Audio Vibrox review

Why carry an extra portable Bluetooth speaker when you can just snap one to the back of your phone? We’ve got the pros & cons in our Vibes Audio Vibrox review.
klipsch reference speakers 2 new

Klipsch’s new reference speakers raise the home theater bar, again

Two new Klipsch reference speakers are now vying for your home theater dollars: The RF-7 III and RC-64 III are Klipsch's new flagship models.